Surgical table



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- B. H. DAGGETT.

SURGICAL TABLE.

No. 386,916. Patented July 31, 1888.

N. PiTiflS. PholbLilMnphcr, Washington, a. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. H. DAGGETT.

SURGICAL TABLE.

No. 386,916. Patented July 31, 1888.

wwmmo,

N PETERS, Phnlo-Lrthognghsr, Washington D. C,

NITE STATES BYRON H. DAGGETT, OF BUFFALO, NEXV YORK.

SURGICAL TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,916, dated July 31, 1888.

Application filed October 7, 1887. Serial No. 351,711.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, BYRON I-I. DAGGETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bu ffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surgical Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in surgical tables especially adapted for use in gynecological operations and examinations, the construction being such that when not in use forsurgieal purposes the table may, by simple and speedy manipulation, be readily converted into an attractive article of office furniture in no respect suggestive of its true purpose.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 represents a table embodying the same in the adjustment necessary to give to the patient the well-known Sims position, familiar to gynecologists. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same with the top removed. Fig. 8 represents in detail the manner of connecting the top with the sup porting frame-work. Fig. 4 represents a bottom plan view of the tabletop; Fig. 5 represents in perspective the removable retainingframe, which constitutes one of the features of my invention; and Fig. 6 represents my spring hinge joint.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

The legs A of the table have preferably an outward inclination at their lower ends, as shown, so as to insure its stability when the weight of the patient is unevenly distributed upon the table-top. The legs are connected at their upper portions by the usual side and end pieces, B G, and at a lower plane by a shelf, It, having an interior space for the reception of the adjustable sliding platform-leaf It and supported upon inwardly-extending strong eastings F, secured by screws or otherwise to the table-legs.

The shelf 7c serves as a convenient support for such surgical instruments, therapeutieal apparatus, and their accessories as it may be desirable to have at hand or within easy access (No model.)

during the progress of the examination or operation. The adjustable leaf k, if required, may serve a like purpose; but in general it will probably be found advisable to slide it within the shelf It after the patient has mounted the table, so that it will present no obstruction to the operator. The main function of the leaf It is, however, to serve as an intermediate step or platform to assist the patient in mounting the table from the floor.

It will be noted that by reason of the location of the shelf It entirely within the space inclosed by the table-legs the weight of a person standing upon the leaf it will be transmitted to the floor in substantially a vertical plane through the adjacent table-legs, and that there fore there will be scarcely the slightest tendency, if any, for the table to tip under the weight of the heaviest patient. In actual practice I have found that the stability of the table was not affected by a patient weighing two hundred and fifty pounds standing upon the platform-leaf.

The table top consists, primarily, of an upper and lower portion, a a, united along their sides by the connecting-strips 1), thereby forn1- ing an interior space open at both ends for the reception of certain sliding portions, hereinafter referred to. At its left-hand roar corner a universal-joint connection is made between the said top and the table-frame. The details of this joint in the form preferred by me are illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and i. A plate, f, having cast integral with it a hollow cupshaped bearing, a, is attached to the under side of the tabletop at the corner referred to. The bearing n is centrally erforated,as shown, and contains a ball provided with ashank, f, which, passing through the said perforation, is received within a recess, m, formed within the corresponding table-leg of the frame. The tableleg just above the recess m is provided with a hollow, p, of spherical contour, forming a seat for the reception of the bearing a. This construction enables me to tilt the table into the obliquely-inclined plane called for, when the patient is caused to assume Sims position, and illustrated in Fig. 1. The means for effecting and retaining this adj ustment :00 consists of the cooperating props g and h. The prop g is connected to the under side of the table-top by spring-hinges 9, whose tendency is to throw the said prop into a position normal to the table-top. A handle, 9, is attached to the prop g and extends outwardly slightly beyond the table-frame, as shown in Fig. 4. The haudleg permits the operator to overcome the force of the spring-hinges and, as indicated in said figure in dotted lines, bring the prop 9 parallel to the table top in lowering the latter.

The prop h, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, is connected by means of spring-hinges h h to the inner surface of the front side of the table-frame, and is constantly solicited by said.

springs to assume a'vertical position.

A bent handle, h, connected with the prop h, furnishes means for operating the latter, so as to permit the table-top to lower. The operation of these props will be obvious from what has been said. Normallythat is,when the table-top rests directly upon the legs-both props are located in horizontal planes, and by reason of the snperincumbent weight of the table-top are restrained from assuming any other position. The operator may now raise the top either from the end proximate to gor from the side proximate to h. Thereupon g or h, as the case may be, rocks outwardly on its spring-hinge as thetop rises, and finally reaches the upright position for supporting the top,when the operator ceases to raise it. It is evident that in effecting the adjustment shown in Fig. 1 the operator may begin by raising either the side or end of the table-top.

When in raising the top it is inadvertently carried too high, a guide, 1', attached to its under side and working between blocks on the frame, prevents the top from swinging off out of position.

In Sims position, in which the buttocks rest upon the proximate right-hand corner of the table, the greatest weight is concentrated at that point. It will be noted, therefore, as an especial merit of my construction that the props g and h are both supported by the tableleg at said corner, thereby affording great security against accident.

Upon the table-top I employ an angular frame consisting of a head-board, 1", knee-guide r, and ankle-rest t, the knee-guide and anklerest being preferably suitably upholstered where the leg contacts with them. The three sections are hinged together, so as to be stored compactly when not in use, and are removable as a whole from the table-top. A hook, s, connects the headboard with the top, and another hook, s, connects the knee-guide with the top, while the ankle-rest is held in position by means of one of a pair of stirrups, hereinafter described, entering a retaining channel or recess, 15, therein.

The leaf (1 is cut away at each side, as shown, and in the spaces thus left are fitted the stirrup-pieces E E, having the heel-holes F. and pulls E, and retaining-pins 9 which retain the stirrups against accidental removal.

A notch, E is formed in each of the stirrups, and the inner end of the stirrups beveled, so that when pulled out they may, as shown in Fig. 4., be slightly inclined outwardly, which I have found desirable.

WVithin the hollow interior of the table-top are located the extensible leaves or sections 0d, provided, respectively, with pulls c d for operating them. The leaves dovetail into each other, as shown, so as to renderimpossible any abutting together of the sides or ends while they are being pushed in. This construction also gives a longer bearing to the sliding leaves, thereby increasing their rigidity when pulled out and rendering them less liable to break. i

In practical use my table, when not desired for surgical purposes, is designed to be entirel y unsuggestive thereof. This effect is attained by removing the combined head-board, knee guide, and rest, retiring all the slides,and dropping the cover. The table in this condition resembles an ordinary table of neat and attractive appearance. When it is desired to now convert it into an operating and examining table of the common type, the slidesc and d and the stirrups E are drawn out and a mattress spread over the extended surface thus presented. To convert it from this adjustment into one adapted for the so called back position, the slides 0 and d are retired, the headboard frame is attached to the top, the ankle-rest being, however,swung back out of the way, and the adjustable stirrups are inclined outwardly. The stirrups in this position derive a firm support from the frame and the slide d, inasmuch as the legs of the patient tend to force the outer ends of the stirrups, and consequently insure more intimate contact at the bearingsurfaces.

To obtain Sims position I make the alter ations in adjustment shown in Fig. 1. The patient now rests her left thigh across the end of the table, places her left knee against the rail, lays her head upon the pillow, carries her left arm backward and her left leg upon the ankle-rest, and draws the right leg upon the rail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a table of thekind described, the combination, with the table-legs, of a shelf connected therewith and a platform adjustable from the shelf, thesaid platform when extended having its fulcrum of support at a point entirely within the space bounded by the tablelegs, whereby the patient may step upon the platform in mounting the table without dis turbing its equilibrium.-

2. In a table of the kind described, the combination, with the table-legs, of a frame located entirely within the space bounded by said legs and connected at its corners thereto,

a shelf sustained by said frame and having a hollow interior, and a platform adjustable from the shelf, substantially as described.

'lIO

IIS

3. In a table of the kind described, the combination, with the frame-work and top, of a universal joint connecting the two at one corner and props for retaining the top in tilted adjustment, substantially as set forth.

4. In a table of the kind described, the combination, with the frame-work and top, of an end prop and a side prop intermediate between the said top and frame, and springs for throwing said props into operative position when the top is raised, substantially as set forth.

5. In a table of the kind described, the combination, with the frame-work and top, of a universal joint connecting the two at one corner and a stop-guide for limiting the movement of the top, substantially as set forth.

6. In a table of the kind described, the combination, with the frame-work, of the top containing sliding leaves and stirrups located side by side, with their edges in sliding contact, whereby the said leaves and stirrups may be drawn out together to form a broad support, or the stirrups alone drawn out, substantially as described.

7. In a table of the kind described, the con1 bination, with the frame-work, of the top having an interior receptacle containing the oppositely-slidingleaves dovetailed with respect to each other, substantially as set forth.

8. In a table of the kind described, the combination, with the frame-work, of the top c0nnected thereto by a universal joint, a dropprop connected with the top, and an upwardlyswinging leaf connected with the frame, the

said leaves being located in planes substantially parallel to the ends and sides of the frame-work, substantially as set forth.

9. In a table of the kind described, aretainingframe removably attachable to the top edges of the table, and consisting of a headboard, knee-guide, and ankle-rest, substantiall y as described.

10. In a table of the kind described, the com bination, with the top, of an ankle-rest hinged at one corner of said top, the inner end of said ankle rest when in operative position abutting against the end of the top, substantially as described.

11. In a table oft-he kind described, a retaining frame removably attachable to the top edges of the table, and consisting of a headboard, a side board hinged to said head-board, and an ankle-rest hinged to the end of said side board, substantially as described.

12. In atable of the kind described, the re movable retaining-frame consisting of a headboard, knee-guide, and ankle-rest hinged to gether, the head-board and knee-guide having retaining-catches and the ankle-rest having a locking-recess, in combination with the stirrup engaging Within said locking-recess, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BYRON H. DAGGE'IT.

Vitnesses:

J OHN O. PENNIE, W. L. HARRIs. 

